Surgical Specimen Marking Mechanism

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an endoscopic clip placement tool and one or more marking clips attached to a specimen mass by the clip placement tool to mark a margin and orientation of the specimen mass.

This is a non-provisional application based on provisional application Ser. No. 62/162,035 filed on May 15, 2015 and claims priority thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to medical devices, more particularly, surgical specimen margin orientation marking.

BACKGROUND

Surgical specimen margin orientation marking for endoscopic, robotic, laparoscopic, or other surgery types where body tissue is removed, is critical for pathological diagnosis, tumor excision and other margin marking. One example of surgical specimen margin orientation marking may be featured in an endoscopic excision of a tumor. In such an example, the tumor is removed and forwarded to a pathologist for evaluation by frozen or permanent section. The pathologist subsequently performs an analysis to identify malignancy at one or more margins. A surgeon may then direct additional tissue to be excised, the orientation of which is critical for proper and accurate excision.

The current technique for surgical specimen margin orientation marking involves ink marking after a specimen has been removed from a body. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a conventional marking technique in which a specimen mass is marked with a dotted line to differentiate from surrounding tissues identifies an excised mass. In such a technique an ink mark may be placed at “12:00 o'clock” position on the mass.

However, this approach is inaccurate and subject to error if the orientation of the specimen is changed (e.g., dropped, manipulated, etc.). For example, it may be difficult to find the ink marks and compare to those on the removed mass. Further, the surgeon, staff, or pathologist examining the mass may mistakenly manipulate the removed mass, or there may be miscommunication between surgeons and pathologists related to orientation. An alternative approach that may be implemented includes placement of a reference suture in the specimen at the 12:00 O'clock position. However, this approach is equally subject to error.

Accordingly, an improved surgical specimen margin orientation marking mechanism is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention. The drawings, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional surgical specimen margin orientation marking system;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a surgical specimen margin orientation marking mechanism;

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate embodiments of a mass identified by marking clips; and

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a package of marking clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A surgical specimen margin orientation marking mechanism is described. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a surgical specimen margin orientation marking mechanism 200. Mechanism 200 includes an endoscopic clip placement tool 205 and marking clips 210. In one embodiment, each marking clip 210 includes a clip 212 and a color-coded suture 214 attached at a closed end of clip 212. In such an embodiment, clips 212 are titanium ligature clips, while the sutures are comprised of silk. However other embodiments may feature clips and sutures made of different materials, and having different shapes and weights.

According to one embodiment, the color-coded sutures 214(a)-214(e) are implemented to indicated a location. In such an embodiment, 214(a) includes a red suture indicating an anterior location. Similarly, 214(b), 214(c), 214(d) and 214(e) include green, blue, purple and yellow sutures, respectively, that represent inferior, superior, posterior and deep locations, respectively. However, other embodiments may feature various other color-coding schemes.

In one embodiment, a surgeon will place two marking clips 210 for specimen marking. In such an embodiment, one marking clip 210 is placed on a mass, while the second marking clip 210 is placed in the surrounding tissue. Subsequently, a cut is made in between the two. The result is a mirror image marking of the two pieces.

Color coded sutures 214 are attached to the clips having colors designating the anterior, inferior, superior, posterior, and deep margins, as discussed above. FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate embodiments of a mass identified by marking clips 210. As shown in FIG. 3A, a mass 300 to be excised is identified by dotted line 305 to differentiate from surrounding tissues.

Color-coded sutures 214 devices are placed on the margins to identify orientation. For instance, clips 210 are shown having pairs of sutures 214(a) and 214(c). Note that only two types of suture 214 clips have been shown for ease of viewing. FIG. 3B shows clips 210 having sutures 214(a) and 214(b) attached to tissue above mass 300 for orientation following excision of mass 300, while FIG. 3C shows clips 210 having sutures 214(a) and 214(b) attached to mass 300 for orientation following excision.

According to one embodiment, marking mechanism 200 enables accurate communication between a pathologist and a surgeon, assuming a positive or close margin determined by the pathologist. FIG. 3D shows additional tissue 310 requiring excision that can be more accurately addressed, and FIG. 3E shows a positive or close margin identified by the pathologist.

In a further embodiment, the surgeon may implement the clip 210/suture 214 combination as an effective tool for manipulating tissues, which is more efficient than attaching a handle to an otherwise slippery surface. FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a package of marking clips. As shown in FIG. 4, a package may include 25-pair/50-unit cassette of clips 210 having the various sutures 214 for endoscopic procedures.

Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an endoscopic clip placement tool; and one or more marking clips attached to a specimen mass by the clip placement tool to mark a margin and orientation of the specimen mass.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the marking clips are attached to tissue surrounding the specimen mass.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the marking clips comprise: a clip having a closed end; and a suture attached to the closed end of the clip.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein each suture is color coded to indicate a location of the specimen mass and surrounding tissue.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein a first color indicates a first location, a second color indicates second location, a third color indicates a third location and a fourth color indicates a fourth location.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first location is an anterior location, the second location is an inferior location, the third location is a posterior location and the fourth color location is a deep location.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein a first clip having the first color is placed on the specimen mass and a second clip having the first color is placed on the surrounding tissue.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the placement of the first and second clips result in a mirror image marking.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the mirror image marking provides marking for removing the mass specimen.
 10. The device of claim 11, wherein the marking clips are implemented to manipulate the mass specimen.
 11. A marking system comprising: one or more marking clips attached to a specimen mass to mark a margin and orientation of the specimen mass.
 12. The marking system of claim 11, wherein the marking clips are attached to tissue surrounding the specimen mass.
 13. The marking system of claim 12, wherein each of the marking clips comprise: a clip having a closed end; and a suture attached to the closed end of the clip.
 14. The marking system of claim 13, wherein each suture is color coded to indicate a location of the specimen mass and surrounding tissue.
 15. The marking system of claim 14, wherein a first color indicates a first location, a second color indicates second location, a third color indicates a third location and a fourth color indicates a fourth location.
 16. The marking system of claim 15, wherein the first location is an anterior location, the second location is an inferior location, the third location is a posterior location and the fourth color location is a deep location.
 17. The marking system of claim 15, wherein a first clip having the first color is placed on the specimen mass and a second clip having the first color is placed on the surrounding tissue.
 18. The marking system of claim 17, wherein the placement of the first and second clips result in a mirror image marking.
 19. The marking system of claim 18, wherein the mirror image marking provides marking for removing the mass specimen.
 20. The marking system of claim 11, wherein the marking clips are implemented to manipulate the mass specimen. 